Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-02-05

for future good, are the two libraries also the
gift of two of Baltimore's merchants-and
quite as remarkable in the fact of their having
been inaugarated during the lives of their.
founders. A comforting reflection is the high
credit enjoyed by the city in financial point Of
view-her bonds being as easily placed as those
of the Federal government.
terized by degree of conservatism that it has
been pleasure with some TO cast at her as a
stigma-but it has often warded off many
disaster, and with somewhat of thankfulness
that the disasters of other cities have only
lightly touched Baltimore, the following epitome
of resources is offered.
ADVANTAGES OF BALTIMORE AS A DIS
TRIBUTIvE CENTRE.
The Distrfbutive or Jobbing Trade OF the
City of Baltimore is built upon solid and
lasting foundation.
In those cities which are her most formidable
rivals, many old and prominent firms have.
within a few years, declined business, and
entirely dropped out of the list. On the con-
trary, with Baltimore trade as regards the In
crease in number of its factors, the large trans
actions of individual firms that might be cited
or the remarkable volume attained in the
aggregate-all point to the fact of a gradual
and healthy increase of business.
These two opposite conditions have largely
been brought about by the constantly increased
expenses in the one case, and the comparatively
limited expenses in the other, attendant upon
the new modes of conducting business
Baltimore merchants buy from first hands
To certain extent their wants are supplied
from manufacturers of Domestic Goods, located
within the State and near by.
The products of the more distant mills are
received direct from those mills without inter-
mediate handling Intercourse with the manu-
tacturers of Great Britain, and the Continent
of Europe, wherever located, and of whatever
speciality, is direct through buyers, sent by
Baltimore houses to all such points, each
season Finally, these purchases are, by means
of direct ocean steamers, laid down at the
port of Baltimore, subject to precisely the
same duties as are imposed at every other port:
but, it is positive the outside, incidental and
necessary charges at this point are lighter
than at any other leading port in the country.
Without going into an elaborate comparison
of the expense necessarily entailed in conduct
ing business, certain features cannot be ignored.
Warehouse rents in Baltimore range from
$4,000 to $4,000 against $4,000 to $50,
600 for those of the size, similarly located,
in New York. The difference in taxes amounts
to 80 per cent. in water rents, so per cent. in
wharfage, storage and carriage fully one-half,
and, in personal expenses, whether of prin-
cipal or clerk, such as house rents, provisions
and fuel, are all 50 per cent. less in Baltimore
than in NewaYork. These advantages may be
claimed for Baltimore, and must determine, to
a great extent. in her favor.
- DcI+
chase goods upon equal terms, and the ex-
pense of conducting business be less, it neces-
sarily follows that the Baltimore merchant
can sell at a lower figure, and still realize a
reasonable profit.
These advantages must be conceded, and
are too wcighty to be imperative.
INDUSTRIAL ADVANTAGES.
As manufacturing or industrial centre, the
City of Baltimore may claim to possess both
natural and legislative advantages, unequaled
by those of any city in the country. The
neighboring soil is rich in ores-its proximity
to the inexhaustibIe coal fields OF the State,
and to those of Pennsylvania and West Vir-
ginia, to the timber growing sections of the
linas, renders it the cheapest lumber market
and seaport for fuel on the Atlantic coast
The city government has exempted from taxa
ton all manufacturing plants, and, with equal
iliberality. water for such purposes is supplied
sat a, merely nominal rate, and, in certain cases.
entirely exempt from charges. In few cities
do the provision markets present, at all times
such abundance and variety, or at such reason
able rat es.
Climate, seasons duly co nsidered, approaches,
as near as may be, to perfecton-spared alike
from the extreme rigors of winter and the
fear of endemics and epidemios. Labor is
plentiful, and at reasonably low wages. The
Iaborer does not, however, have cause for
complaint, and in maryelously few cities is
it possible for him to be domcled bene ath
his own roof as here, comfortably and
conomically-tenement houses being unknown
These enumerations are sufficient to guarantee
the amicable feeling between the employer and
the employed, and to ward off-except through
contagion from other less favored communities
the dreful collisions between labor ami
capital.